Council leader responds to removal of Town Hall flag

Leader of Sheffield City Council, Cllr Tom Hunt said: ““Everyone has the right to safe and peaceful protest but we cannot support the events that took place during the protest outside Sheffield’s Town Hall. Protestors put themselves and others in serious danger. We are a City of Sanctuary, and this is not what we stand for.

“There are strong feelings about the situation in Israel and Palestine but we ask everyone to show respect and tolerance at this time. 

“Our thoughts are with all those affected, including here in the UK.

“Terrorism is never justified. We call for peace and an end to attacks on innocent men, women and children in Israel and Palestine.”

Factual points:

• On the evening of Tuesday 10 October 2023 a number of individuals scaled Sheffield Town Hall and removed the Israel flag, replacing it with the flag of Palestine. As always planned, at 8pm (10/10/23) the Union flag was put back in place.
• The Israel flag was handed back to Sheffield City Council officials, not destroyed as some have suggested on social media.
• A full review of this incident will take place by Sheffield City Council and we will look at the security measures that were in place.
• We are working with South Yorkshire Police.
• SCC leaders issued a cross party statement on the developing situation in Israel and Palestine Sheffield City Council Leaders statement on the situation in Israel and Palestine (sheffnews.com)
• Along with many other public authorities in the UK, Sheffield City Council displayed the Israeli flag to show solidarity with the innocent people in that country who faced appalling acts of terror.
• The decision to raise the Israeli flag until 8pm (10/10/23) was taken in line with Sheffield City Council’s flag protocol and in response to a request from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to consider this action.